The three men stared at Takumi with eyes full of contempt and ridicule, yet he could only stare back in disbelief. They looked to be in their mid-twenties, though it was hard to tell beneath the grime caked on their faces. Their clothes were filthy, patched in places, torn in others, and carried the thick, stale stench of people who had long abandoned dignity. Their expressions twisted unnervingly—equal parts hunger, cruelty, and boredom—like men who had done terrible things so often that it no longer stirred their conscience.
Takumi swallowed as he assessed them.
These guys… they really look the part. Bandits in real life don't look this… evil. They look like they came straight out of a low-budget fantasy movie.
One of them cracked his knuckles. Another licked his lips, as if amused. The last one, clearly the leader, smirked like a wolf eyeing a trapped rabbit.
"Damn," Takumi muttered under his breath. "A compulsory event, seriously?"
His heart pounded. His palms were sweaty. And yet, he forced himself to stand up straight, despite the tremble running through his legs. If this really was another world—and the bizarre scenery from earlier gave him no reason to doubt it—then running into something dangerous early on was practically a tradition.
That didn't make it any easier.
Mission 1: Repel the bandits, he thought bitterly.
Clear condition: survive. Failure condition: … yeah, that's obvious.
He slapped both cheeks with a sharp smack, trying to force courage into himself. The sting helped, a little.
"Alright, Takumi. You've read too many isekai novels to die this early. Think! Maybe you got some weird world-travel buff. Maybe your body's stronger now. In stories, people always get bonuses like… like lighter gravity or something!"
He bounced lightly on the balls of his feet.
His eyes widened.
"…Hold on. My body does feel light. Not crazy light, but… lighter than normal. Are you serious? Is this the part where the loser protagonist suddenly becomes OP?! If so, then maybe… maybe I can actually win!"
"He's muttering something," one bandit snorted.
"Doesn't matter," the leader replied. "He'll figure things out soon enough."
They walked toward him with the casual confidence of men crushing an ant. But Takumi—pumped up on fear, adrenaline, and delusion—refused to back down.
"Oi!" he shouted, pointing at them dramatically. "You three won't be laughing soon. Guys like me fantasize about this stuff all the time! I'll beat the crap out of you and get a bunch of XP!"
"…What the hell's he saying?"
"No clue. But he's dead for mocking us."
"That's my line!" Takumi declared.
And then—before they could react—he charged.
He threw his entire weight behind his right arm, swinging it forward with all the strength he could muster.
His fist connected squarely with the leader's face.
A loud crack resounded.
Or rather, a loud crack came from his own hand.
"AGH—?!"
The leader staggered back, his face twisting in surprise. Takumi, meanwhile, stumbled, clutching his throbbing knuckles.
Holy crap holy crap holy crap that hurts way more than manga made it look!
Still, the leader really did fall—dropping flat onto his back and not moving.
Takumi blinked in shock.
"…I-I actually knocked someone out?"
The rush of achievement drowned out the pain.
"Alright! Next!"
He spun toward the man closest to him and launched a high kick—a kick practiced only during after-bath stretches, and never once used in an actual fight. Miraculously, it connected with the man's temple.
"GUH!"
The bandit flew sideways, slamming into a wall.
Takumi froze for a heartbeat.
Then his lips curled into a grin.
"I… I'm invincible. This world really DID boost me! I can actually—"
Steel glinted.
The remaining bandit stepped forward, gripping a knife with a steady hand.
Takumi's legs turned to jelly.
"Nope nope nope nope—!"
He dropped to his knees so fast that even the bandit blinked in confusion.
"I'm sorry!! All my fault!! Please spare me!!"
It wasn't bravery.
It wasn't strategy.
It was pure, pathetic self-preservation—a desperate, kneeling bow that scraped his forehead against the dirt.
The two men he had "defeated" groaned, staggering back up to their feet, rubbing their noses and temples.
Takumi's jaw dropped.
"Huh?! Why are you alive?! I hit you with my full power! Where's my isekai bonus?! Did I get scammed?!"
"You little bastard!" one spat. "That hurt!"
"And you made me hit my head!" the other roared. "I'm gonna enjoy cutting you up!"
They grabbed him by the hair, slammed his head into the ground, and stomped on him brutally.
Takumi curled up, trying to protect his neck and stomach.
"A-Aaaagh! Stooop—!! Hurts! Hurts hurts hurts!!"
This wasn't a manga fight scene.
There was no slowing of time, no protagonist glow.
Just raw pain and the terrifying realization that he was completely helpless.
The one with the knife crouched in front of him.
"We'll kill you. Then we'll take everything you have."
"If it's valuables you're after—gh—forget it," Takumi cried. "I'm broke! Completely broke!!"
"Your weird clothes'll sell for something. And when we're done, we'll feed your body to the rats."
Rats, Takumi thought dimly.
Even in another world… they're still bottom-tier monsters.
His mind began drifting as despair crushed him.
His life wasn't flashing before him—just the pathetic knowledge that he was going to die meaninglessly in a dirty alleyway.
Then—
"Move. You're in my way."
A young voice, irritated and breathless, cut through the tension.
The bandits stiffened. Takumi tried to lift his head and saw—
A girl.
Blonde hair. Small frame. Sharp, mischievous eyes. Wearing shabby clothes, yet somehow looking brimming with life.
For a moment, Takumi's heart soared.
A savior?
A heroine?
A classic light-novel event?!
As their eyes met, she raised her hand.
"Uh—sorry! I'm kinda busy! Good luck!"
"…Eh?"
She ran right past them.
Right past the bandits.
Right past Takumi.
Then leapt onto a tilted wooden board and sprang up the wall like a squirrel.
In seconds, she was gone.
The alley fell silent.
Takumi lay there, stunned.
The bandits were not impressed.
"Well," one growled, "now I'm in a worse mood."
"We'll carve you up real slow."
Takumi's breath trembled.
Is this… really it? Is my life going to end here? After doing nothing? After achieving nothing?
He squeezed his eyes shut.
But then—
"—That is enough."
A new voice rang through the alley.
Clear. Firm. Commanding.
Everything stopped.
Takumi's eyes snapped open.